6.30pm
Coinjoined twins have been successfully separated in a 22-hour operation at Waikato Hospital.
The twins are recovering in intensive care and hospital staff say they are making good progress.
They are pygopagus twins, meaning they were joined at their lower spine and pelvis.
There have been fewer than 30 cases reported worldwide,
and this is the first in Australasia.
Officials are giving few details, saying only that the twins were born in the Hospital earlier this year, and the operation was performed on Tuesday.
Surgeon Askar Kukkady was helped by plastic, orthopaedic and neuro surgeons, plus two surgeons from Auckland.
This is the second separation of conjoined twins at Waikato Hospital; the first was in 1987.
Seven surgeons and seven nurses were involved in the operation.
The family have requested complete anonymity and no details of their sex, organs shared or age will be released.
The extent of the disabilities of the children is unknown at this stage.
- Newstalk ZB
